BASEBALL CARDS NOLAN RYAN TOPPS

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Nolan Ryan is considered one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history and his baseball cards produced by Topps over his 27 year MLB career are some of the most sought after in the hobby. Ryan dominated on the mound with a 100 mph fastball and holds numerous pitching records, including most no-hitters and strikeouts. His iconic pitching style made him a favorite of collectors and generated huge interest in his Topps cards from the 1960s through the 1990s.

One of Ryan’s earliest and most valuable rookie cards is his 1966 Topps card. That was Ryan’s first season in the majors with the New York Mets after being drafted in the 12th round in 1965 out of Alvin High School in Texas. The 1966 Topps set had 792 total cards and featured a classic design with black borders and player photos on a white background. Ryan’s rookie card shows him as a fresh-faced 19-year-old with a full head of hair, sporting his Mets uniform number 30. Due to his early career and the large print run, ungraded copies of this card in average condition can be found for $50-100. High grade gem mint copies in PSA 10 or Beckett Grading Services (BGS) 10 have sold at auction for over $20,000, reflecting Ryan’s eventual Hall of Fame status.

After being traded from the Mets to the California Angels after the 1971 season, Ryan began dominating hitters in Anaheim. His 1972 Topps card, sporting his new Angels uniform, is another key card for collectors. That season was when Ryan’s career really took off, as he led the American League with 329 strikeouts and posted a 1.99 ERA. He won the AL Cy Young Award and would go on to win four more over his career. High grade copies of this iconic Angels card have sold for over $1,000, showing collectors’ strong demand for cards chronicling Ryan’s emergence as a true ace.

Ryan’s 1973 Topps card is also highly coveted, as it captures another dominant season where he struck out 341 batters and won 22 games. The design features enlarged color player photos on a blue background for the first time. This was also the first Topps set to use uniform numbers, helping identify players more easily. High grade versions of this pivotal card in Ryan’s career have reached over $3,000 at auction. It’s a favorite of both Angels and baseball card collectors alike due to Ryan’s intimidating stare and the memorable statistics from that ’73 campaign.

After being traded to the Houston Astros in 1980, Ryan entered the peak of his Hall of Fame career. His 1981 and 1983 Topps cards are considered two of his most iconic. In 1981, the 40-year-old Ryan had one of the greatest seasons ever by a pitcher, striking out a record 383 batters and winning his third Cy Young. Highlights included pitching the seventh no-hitter of his career. His iconic photo on the ’81 Topps card shows Ryan mid-windup, his powerful right arm cocked and ready to fire. PSA 10 and BGS 10 copies have sold for over $10,000.

Two years later, Ryan’s 1983 Topps card captured another dominant season where he won 18 games and struck out 308 while leading the league in shutouts. This marked Ryan’s age-41 season and he looked as intimidating as ever on the mound. The ’83 design featured enlarged color photos and a classic blue and white color scheme. High grade versions have reached the $5,000 price point. These cards exemplify the peak of Ryan’s legendary career during his dominant Astros seasons.

After being traded to the Texas Rangers in 1989 at age 42, Ryan produced two more of his most valuable modern era cards in his final seasons. His 1989 Upper Deck rookie card, sporting his inaugural Rangers uniform, has become one of the most iconic cards from the early Upper Deck era. Graded mint copies have sold for over $3,000. His final Topps card from the 1993 set is also hugely popular. At age 46, Ryan was still striking out over 200 batters as he pitched toward the end of his storied 27-year career. PSA 10 copies of this historic “swan song” card have reached $2,000, capping Ryan’s legendary Topps run.

In total, Nolan Ryan appeared on 30 different Topps baseball cards throughout his career from 1966 to 1993. As one of the most intimidating and dominant pitchers in baseball history, Ryan’s cards became some of the most iconic and valuable in the hobby. Whether it’s his rookie card as a young Mets pitcher or his peak years with the Angels and Astros, Ryan’s Topps cards have fascinated collectors for decades. They provide a visual chronicle of the evolution and milestones of one of baseball’s all-time greats through his record-setting playing career. To this day, high grade examples of Nolan Ryan’s Topps cards remain highly coveted and valuable pieces within the collection of any serious baseball card enthusiast.

POST BASEBALL CARDS 1961

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The1961 Topps baseball card set would be one of the last produced before major changes came to the baseball card industry. As the 1960s progressed, new styles of cards would emerge that looked very different than previous decades. This period marked a transition as baseball cards moved from primarily being a collectible focused on individual players, to more of an entertainment product tied to the growing baseball card hobby.

In the early 1960s, Topps remained the dominant baseball card company, producing their standard size cards each year from 1952 on. Other competitors were starting to challenge Topps. In 1962, Fleer launched their innovated smaller sized “red box” baseball cards, becoming the first successful competitor to Topps in over a decade. This helped spark more competition and new styles of cards going forward.

Topps would respond to Fleer in 1963 by launching their own smaller “pink box” cards. These were the first significant redesign of Topps cards since the 1950s. The pink box cards moved away slightly from individual player focus, incorporating more visually interesting designs and photography. They also had pink backs instead of the basic gray backs used for decades. This started Topps down a path of more creative card designs to keep collectors interested.

In the mid-1960s, the once staid baseball card market experienced rapid changes driven by growing collector interest, especially among baby boomers. Fleer and Topps increasingly experimented with new visual styles, card shapes, and innovative sets beyond the traditional model. Color photography started becoming more prevalent on cards. Fleer led the way here with their 1968 set being the first to feature only color photos.

Cards also began shifting towards more entertainment-focused themes and away from stats-only information. Fleer produced the hugely popular 1965 Hank Aaron rookie card set focusing more on storytelling than stats. Topps followed this trend with visual narrative highights sets covering iconic moments in 1967 and 1968. Both companies also released many oddball and limited run insert sets to appeal to collectors.

The burgeoning hobby also gave rise to the introduction of premium and limited edition card styles in the 1960s. In 1965, Topps launched the high-end Photostats set featuring oversized reproductions of player photos on thicker card stock. Fleer took this further with their limited 1967 Post cards, which were photographic black and white prints inserted randomly in wax packs at very low odds. These premium insert sets fueled collector interest.

Perhaps the biggest change came in 1967 when Topps produced the first “modern” size cards at 2.5 inches by 3.5 inches, bringing them in line size-wise with non-sports cards of the time like Cracker Jack. This newly standardized size became the industry norm going forward. Topps also incorporated color photos on every card that year alongside new graphic designs. The 1967 set marked a true cultural turning point for baseball cards.

This period saw continued emergence of regional and independent card companies competing with Topps and Fleer nationally. Brands like Kellogg’s, Post, Pez, and Frontier Cardinals produced baseball sets targeting collectors in specific areas. They helped expand the overall hobby audience beyond just kids.

By the late 1960s, several factors had transformed baseball cards from items mainly given out with gum/candy, to a serious avid collector market. Rising disposable incomes, the baseball card collecting pastime, and limited/insert sets super-charged collector demand industry-wide. The transition to the “modern” standardized size was key for longevity in the booming hobby going forward.

This post-1961 period was when baseball cards fully emerged as cultural icons of the baby boomer generation. Experimentation by Topps and Fleer in the mid-1960s paved the way for the industry innovations that persist today like team/star sets, retro/tribute releases, autographed/relic cards, and specialized parallel/ memorabilia inserts. The powerful surge in the baseball card collecting phenomenon during the 1960s forever changed the marketplace. In many ways, it marked the real birth of modern sports card collecting ahead of the industry’s golden age in the 1970s and after.

As the 1960s ended and Topps maintained dominance, their 1969 design radically overhauled card aesthetics with a fullbleed photo take up almost the whole front. Backs featured fun factoids and cartoons. This look set a template still followed today. Fleer’s 1969 design was similarly creative and foreshadowed the art card era soon to come. As a new decade dawned, baseball cards were booming more than ever due to changes that originated in the experimental, vibrantly creative post-1961 years. The sports card industry would never be the same.

MC BASEBALL CARDS

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The history of McDonald’s baseball cards dates back to the late 1970s when the fast food giant first began including sports cards and stickers in Happy Meals as bonuses to attract younger customers. This promotional tactic helped skyrocket the popularity of collecting baseball cards across America and fostered a love for the game in millions of children.

In 1977, McDonalds started a short-lived promotions offering stickers of NFL and MLB logos and mascots when packaging up its first ever Happy Meals. But the following year is when things really took off with the introduction of actual cardboard baseball cards. This first set featured dozens of players from both the American and National Leagues in the typical style of the era – small portrait photos on a bed of team colors with basic stats on the back.

With each Happy Meal, kids eagerly tore open the packaging to see which player they received, hoping to collect full teams or chase after the biggest stars. Having never seen cards distributed so widely before, this set sparked collectors everywhere. Restaurants had trouble keeping the promotions in stock as parents clamored to get cards for their children. Baseball card companies took notice of the marketing success and began ramping up their own production.

In 1979, McDonald’s doubled down by issuing an even larger 110-card series showcasing players from the previous season. Veteran stars like Pete Rose, Reggie Jackson and Tom Seaver were highlights. Relying on approved images from Topps, the leader in baseball cards at the time, McDonalds was able to quickly fill orders and grow the hobby. The 1980 set increased to 126 cards and featured a new minimalist design.

Throughout the 1980s, Mickey D’s would release multiple series each year with rights from Topps and Fleer. The 1987 offering ballooned to a whopping 540 cards chronicling that past All-Star and World Series seasons. As the decade wore on, sets grew more elaborate to entice older kids. Postseason highlights, franchise legends and milestone stats grew in prominence on card backs. Parallels were introduced reproducing rare Topps designs like ‘Traded’.

Card companies eventually began to feel their market share threatened and pressured McDonalds to reduce promotions. Sets shrank back to around 100 cards each in the early 90s as licensing became more restrictive. The final McDonald’s baseball card series was issued in 1997 at a mere 50 cards to cap over 20 years of the partnership. By then, collecting cards had reached a fever pitch nationally before beginning a slow decline.

The sheer scale of these McDonald’s promotions almost single-handedly revived the baseball card collecting hobby that had faded after the ‘junk wax’ era of the late ’80s glutted the market with too many identical cards. Ironically, it was also this overproduction which may have helped lead to McDonalds discontinuing their presence. Now impossible to find sealed in original packets, complete McDonalds baseball card sets from the heyday in the late ’70s and ’80s can fetch high prices from dedicated collectors.

While no longer active participants, McDonald’s impact on sports collecting culture cannot be overstated. Their innovative distribution through child-focused fast food helped turn card collecting into both a mainstream activity and lucrative business. Newer generations without the experience still recognize the Golden Arches logo when discussions turn to their parents’ or grandparents’ baseball memories. Some of today’s most passionate vintage collectors likely first became exposed through a random Happy Meal bonus decades ago before nourished love for the game grew.

Though not as prolific as the original Topps or Fleer brands that carry on, the McDonald’s issues remain a uniquely historical artefact from a golden age. Their cards represent both baseball’s peak popularity amongst families and a shrewd business decision that energized children. Even companies like Panini who now hold baseball licensing try emulating Happy Meal promotional strategies. The McDonald’s imprint will always have a place in both the nostalgia and actual portfolios of collectors for generations to come. Their contributions to growing the pastime deserve rightful recognition alongside the sports they depicted so bien for hungry young fans everywhere.

In conclusion, McDonald’s baseball cards played an immeasurable role in expanding the hobby during its 1970s-80s heyday. By creatively distributing cards through their profitable restaurant business focused on families, they introduced legions of children to collectables. This sparked new interest that card manufacturers then capitalized on. While short-lived, the McDonald’s issues left an indelible mark and became beloved pieces of sports memorabilia. They remind us how innovative cross-promotion can hugely amplify passion for America’s pastimes.

BASEBALL CARDS MOST WANTED

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Baseball cards have been around for over 150 years and have become one of the most popular collectibles in the world. While millions of cards have been printed over the decades, some rare specimens have become the holy grails that dedicated collectors search endlessly to find. Whether it’s due to low print runs, special variations, or historical significance, certain vintage and modern baseball cards stand out as the prizes that every collector hopes to uncover.

One of the earliest and most iconic baseball cards is the 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner. Produced by the American Tobacco Company between 1909–1911, it is widely considered the most valuable trading card in existence. Only around 60 copies are known to still exist today in various conditions. What makes this card so rare is that Wagner demanded his card be pulled from production because he did not want to promote tobacco to children. As a result, only a small number made it into circulation before being recalled. In near-mint condition, a T206 Wagner recently sold at auction for over $6.6 million, making it one of the most valuable collectibles ever sold. No other card even comes close to its prominence and price tag.

Another legendary pre-war card is the 1913 E90 strip card featuring “Shoeless” Joe Jackson. Like the T206 Wagner, it has an interesting backstory. This card was part of a series issued by retailer retailer W.S. Farrell and was available exclusively through the store. Only a small number are believed to have been printed and inserted into packs of Farrell products. In gem mint condition, one recently sold at auction for over $2.6 million. Its rarity and connection to the infamous Black Sox Scandal of 1919 add to its allure for collectors.

From the post-war era, the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle is arguably the most coveted modern card. As one of the first Topps cards to feature color photography, it captured the Yankees’ rising star at the beginning of his Hall of Fame career. The combination of its historic significance, Mantle’s popularity, and low original print run have made high-grade copies exceedingly rare and valuable. In near-mint to mint condition, a 1952 Topps Mantle routinely sells for well over $100,000 at auction. Finding one in a collection is a true treasure for any collector.

Another iconic 1950s rookie card is the 1956 Topps Sandy Koufax. Like Mantle, it captured a future Hall of Famer at the start of what would become a legendary career. What makes the Koufax even more scarce is that it was part of Topps’ very first regular baseball card release after years of only producing bubble gum cards. As such, far fewer were printed than subsequent years. In gem mint condition, a ‘56 Koufax has sold for over $350,000 at auction. It is arguably the most valuable non-Mantle card from the 1950s.

The late 1980s saw the rise of ultra-high-end, premium sets that contained some of the rarest modern parallels. Among these, the 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie PSA 10 GEM MINT is legendary in its scarcity and demand. Upper Deck printed far fewer Griffey rookies than Topps or Donruss that year, and packs were notoriously difficult to find on shelves. The combination of Griffey’s stardom and the limited original print run have made high-grade copies worth a small fortune. A PSA-graded 10 recently sold for $408,000, making it one of the costliest modern cards.

Another coveted premium card is the 1990 Score Ken Griffey Jr. rookie. Unlike the Upper Deck, it contained an embedded piece of Griffey’s actual rookie jersey within the card. Only 100 copies were produced making it incredibly rare. In gem mint condition with a jersey piece still intact, a ’90 Score Griffey rookie has sold for over $750,000 at auction. It is widely considered the most valuable card produced in the modern era.

Beyond the ultra-premium cards, other 1990s rookies have also gained legendary status. The 1992 Bowman Derek Jeter rookie PSA 10 is highly sought after for capturing the Yankee shortstop at the start of his storied career. With Jeter’s iconic status and the card’s low original print run, high-grade copies have sold for over $100,000 each. Likewise, the 1994 SP Derek Jeter Autograph rookie is equally scarce and prized since it contains his actual signature from his first season. In pristine condition, a PSA 10 has sold for over $220,000.

While the cards above highlight some of the most valuable from over a century of the hobby, there are still countless rare specimens that elude even the most dedicated collectors. Whether it’s error cards, one-of-one prototypes, or obscure regional issues, the quest to find that holy grail card that cements a collection is part of what fuels the passion of the cardboard collecting community. With new stars emerging every year and vintage rarities still being unearthed over a century later, the game of seeking out the most prized pieces of baseball history shows no signs of slowing down.

1984 DONRUSS BASEBALL CARDS COMPLETE SET

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The 1984 Donruss baseball card set was the third release of Donruss’ flagship baseball card product. Like many early Donruss sets, it featured relatively simple yet colorful designs that focused primarily on player photography. Cards in the 1984 Donruss set featured memorable rookie cards as well as stars from the 1983 and 1984 MLB seasons. This 1984 baseball card set contained a total of 134 uniform numbered cards that constituted the regular base set along with various insert cards featuring All-Star and Record Breaker cards.

A key feature of 1984 Donruss cards was their classic blue, white and yellow color scheme. Each card featured a solid blue border with yellow outlining. Player names, positions and statistics were printed in white while team logos appeared mainly in yellow. Most cards used a portrait-style photo of the player occupying the majority of the surface area. Statistics were printed sparsely on the bottom half of each card along with career highlights. Unlike some sets that included action photos or collage designs, 1984 Donruss cards strictly utilized individual player snapshots. This straightforward, photography-centric design gave the cards a clean and traditional baseball card aesthetic.

Several notable rookie cards featured in the 1984 Donruss set. Fernando Valenzuela’s rookie card appeared in this release, commemorating his breakout season winning both the NL Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year honors. Other rookie cards of future stars included Eddie Murray, Dwight Gooden, Dave Stieb, Don Mattingly, Julio Franco and Jack Clark among others. While Valenzuela’s was likely the most valuable rookie in the 1984 Donruss set at the time of release, cards of Gooden, Mattingly and Murray have gained prominence in the decades since as those players went on to Hall of Fame careers.

Leading the design of each 1984 Donruss card was the team logo which appeared prominently above the player’s name. Below this, the card number was listed in smaller type along with “DONRUSS” branding. Uniform numbering started from 1 to 134 for the base set cards while special insert cards carried higher three-digit numbers. At the bottom, key career statistics for the featured player were included such as batting average, home runs, RBI and career highlights. An unique feature of 1984 Donruss cards when compared to rival sets from Topps was the inclusion of season statistics for the year prior to the set’s release (1983).

In addition to the standard base cards, the 1984 Donruss release also included several special insert sets. An All-Star card subset highlighted the starting lineups from both the American League and National League All-Star teams from the 1983 Midsummer Classic. They featured blue borders and the number 161 within the team logo. Another insert was a 6-card Record Breaker subset commemorating notable individual performances and milestones from the 1983 baseball season such as Fernando Valenzuela’s rookie record. These insert cards stood out with their red borders and serial numbering from 162-167.

While relatively inexpensive to collect as a complete 1984 Donruss base set today, certain key rookie cards and stars from the set can garner premium prices from collectors. Fernando Valenzuela’s rookie card, card number 23, often sells for over $100 in high grade while mint condition copies can surpass $1,000. Other expensive cards include the rookie cards of Dwight Gooden (34), Don Mattingly (122), Julio Franco (16) and Jack Clark (105) which frequently sell in the $50-150 range depending on condition. The biggest stars of the era like Mike Schmidt (31), Ryne Sandberg (88), Wade Boggs (27) and Roberto Alomar (78) also attract interest and premiums above the most common base cards.

For dedicated 1984 Donruss collectors aiming to complete their entire set including all variations and bonus issues, the challenge lies not just in acquiring the individual cards but also finding them all in high state of preservation. The low-gloss paper stock used for 1984 Donruss cards was prone to staining, chipping and wear over the decades. As such, locating a 1984 Donruss set where all 134 base cards grade at the coveted mint “MT-9” or “MT-10” level under the MINTBASE trading card authentication and grading system is considered a true pinnacle achievement. Bonus factors like completing the All-Star and Record Breaker subsets makes such a pristine 1984 Donruss collection even more impressive.

While offering relatively basic photographic designs compared to modern elaborate card sets, the 1984 Donruss release remained a staple flagship product for the brand and served as an iconic representation of 80s baseball card culture. Featuring stars of the era along with valuable rookie cards of future legends, key cards from the 1984 Donruss set remain highly sought after by dedicated collectors. For those able to piece together a complete pristine 134-card base set with high graded insert cards as well, it stands as a true prize possession cherished decades after the classic cards first hit the hobby.

1988 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS PSA UNGRADED

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The 1988 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic issues from the late 1980s. Produced by Topps and released to the public in the spring of 1988, the set features 660 total cards including career stats and bios for over 650 major league players from the 1987 season. While 1988 Topps cards have been popular with collectors for decades, in recent years the issue has gained even more attention from investors and enthusiasts due to the rise of third party authentication and grading from companies like PSA.

Professionally graded 1988 Topps rookie cards of future Hall of Famers like Ken Griffey Jr., Greg Maddux, and Edgar Martinez have broken records at auction. As a result, many collectors have submitted older 1988 Topps collections to PSA with the hopes of capitalizing on strong population reports. For those who prefer to collect and enjoy their cards raw – without slabs or third party authentication – there are still plenty of appealing ungraded 1988 Topps options available in the marketplace.

Raw 1988 Topps cards found in fresh packs during the original issue year featured standard 67⁄8″ x 31⁄2″ size and a distinctive border design featuring baseballs separating card images from descriptive text on the reverse. Topps used a total of 15 different photo variations across the set, with each player card sporting a unique black-and-white action shot. Rosters included both American and National League teams from 1987, with player trades occasionally resulting in photo or stats mismatches. The rear of each card highlighted that season’s career statistics.

Beyond the core player content, 1988 Topps also included separate subsets focusing on team checklists, league leaders, All-Stars, managers, umpires and more. Standout rookie cards found in the base set featured future stars like Griffey, Maddux, Martinez, Tom Glavine, and Mark Grace. Short prints and error variations added even more collectibility. Overall card condition ranged from Near Mint to well-worn depending on how many times cards cycled through young hands decades ago.

In the early 2010s, PSA began authenticating and slabbing unopened 1988 Topps packs after they were rediscovered. Receiving high overall population report grades served to increase interest in the set from both collectors and investors. For those seeking raw 1988s to enjoy outside of slabs, plenty of ungraded options remained available in the growing online marketplace.

Sites like eBay allowed searching of key players, teams, and incomplete set builds. 1988 Topps cards in all condition grades from Poor to Near Mint/Mint could still be found for affordable prices, avoiding the submission costs associated with third party grading. While unslabbed examples lack CERT verification, raw collectors appreciated being able to easily handle and display cards as they were originally released over 30 years ago. The diverse player lineup from the late 1980s also ensured broad appeal.

For investors, PSA 10 slabs of 1988 flagship rookies like Griffey, Maddux, and Martinez often commanded five-figure sums. But raw collectors recognized equal value in assembling complete team and player collections without certification or population reporting considerations. Lower-grade commons and short prints served as affordable options to complement key stars. Entire incomplete raw sets could sometimes be acquired for a few hundred dollars or less with patience and diligence.

Even in the overheated modern collecting climate, demand for ungraded 1988 Topps cards showed no signs of slowing as enthusiasts new and old sought to build raw collections without regards to potential future resale value. For those not chasing after PSA 10 gems, simply assembling and enjoying the iconic cardboard from warm summer nights of over 30 years past remained a timeless endeavor. And with over 650 unique player bios spanning the American and National Leagues of 1987, the content and nostalgia within raw 1988 Topps cards continued to appeal to collectors of all ages.

Whether certified gems carefully archived in slabs or casually assembled in binders and boxes without regard to condition, the 1988 Topps baseball issue remains a pinnacle achievement and popular obsession for sports card collectors. Both graded population report examples and unqualified raw copies in all states of preservation continue serving enthusiasts with memorable snapshots from the diamond over three decades later. For collectors seeking to build or complete 1988 Topps sets without consideration of future resale value or population reports, affordable ungraded options remain readily available to enjoy the vintage cardboard as it was originally released all those years ago.

INVEST IN BASEBALL CARDS

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Investing in baseball cards can be a fun and potentially profitable hobby. While it certainly requires patience and careful research, there is real money to be made in the baseball card market for savvy investors. In this article, we will explore the basics of buying, holding, and selling baseball cards as investments.

To start, it’s important to understand the baseball card market and what drives card values. Much like other collectibles, the condition and scarcity of a card are huge determinants of its price. Mint condition rookie cards of star players from the 1950s through the 1980s tend to gain the most value over time. This is because the production numbers for cards in the early days of Topps were much lower compared to later years, so pristine examples of legends like Mickey Mantle and Hank Aaron can be worth thousands or even tens of thousands today.

Of course, current superstars also see their rookie cards gain value as they cement their legacy in the sport. Examples include cards of players like Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, Mookie Betts, and Ronald Acuña Jr. that were printed in the 2010s. As long as these players sustain elite careers and demand remains high from collectors, their rookies should appreciate over the long run. Condition is still critical – a near-mint Trout rookie pulled today could realistically be worth 3-5x as much in 10-20 years if preserved well.

Certain sets from the late 80s through the 90s have also gained cult followings that drive up prices. This includes the popular 1987 Topps, 1989 Upper Deck, and 1992 Bowman sets that introduced stars like Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas. Graded mint examples of their rookies can net five figures now. Vintage cards from the 1950s are still the absolute pinnacle, as a T206 Honus Wagner in pristine condition recently sold at auction for over $3 million!

While headline-grabbing auction prices of iconic cards make the news, there is profit to be made deeper in the collecting hobby as well. Smart investors do research on future Hall of Fame candidates still early in their careers like J.D. Martinez, Anthony Rizzo, and Nolan Arenado. Their cards from their rookie years can often be acquired relatively cheaply now in top grades. If any of these players have careers worthy of Cooperstown, their rookie cards stand to increase dramatically in value. The same strategy applies to finding the latest breakout young stars before they are household names.

It’s also important to keep an eye on releases from the modern era. Sets from the late 90s like 1998 Skybox Premium and 1999 Upper Deck SP Authentic are well-regarded for nostalgia and featuring the likes of Derek Jeter rookies. Meanwhile, sets from the 2000s and 2010s that included stars like Clayton Kershaw, Mike Trout, and Ronald Acuña Jr. in their rookie seasons show promise long-term as those players’ careers progress. Investors can buy unopened boxes or cases of whole sets now at reasonable cost compared to singles later.

Of course, the risk is that injuries or unexpected decline could diminish the future upside of investments banking on certain players’ success. That’s why adopting strategies like diversifying across 10-20 different stars at various career stages helps mitigate volatility. It also pays to keep abreast of player signings and team changes through free agency or trades that could impact card values. Memorabilia cards of milestone accomplishments could also appreciate faster than plain base rookie cards over the long haul.

Once an investor has assembled a collection of cards with good long-term potential, properly storing and preserving them is paramount. It’s generally not advisable to crack packs and immediately sell unless getting cards professionally graded first. Instead, carefully store cards in alkaline-free cardboard holders or plastic sleeves inside climate-controlled environments away from direct light. This greatly enhances chances of holding pristine gem mint specimens that command top dollar decades later.

When it’s finally time to sell, there are several profitable exit strategies. Cards in 9+ condition out of 10 could be submitted to credible third-party grading services like PSA or BGS to verify authenticity and quality before listing on eBay, Collectors.com, or direct sale to local collectors or dealers. Serious vintage cards might find the biggest returns through major online auctions. Meanwhile, entire completed modern sets can sometimes be unloaded to specialty breakers and box break sites. Overall profits hinge on purchase price, holding value long enough, and willingness to patientlyoptimize selling opportunities when they align.

Done correctly, an investment strategy focused on accumulation, preservation, and profit-taking with blue chip vintage and modern baseball cards can provide fun and significant long-term returns. It requires due diligence in studies of the market, understanding risks, and disciplined patience to see investments through to maturity. For dedicated collectors also seeking profit potential, baseball cards remain a viable and compelling alternative asset class.

AARON JUDGE 2023 TOPPS BASEBALL CARDS PRICES

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Aaron Judge had one of the most historic seasons in baseball history in 2022 when he broke the American League single-season home run record. Naturally, collectors have taken a major interest in Judge’s rookie cards and cards from his record-setting season. While most of Judge’s cards from previous years have seen significant jumps in value, many collectors are most interested in how his rookie cards and 2023 Topps cards will hold up long-term.

Judge’s rookie season was in 2016 with the New York Yankees. That year, Topps released Judge’s rookie cards in both the standard Topps and Topps Chrome sets. While Judge showed promise in his rookie year, hitting 20 home runs in just 114 games, he had yet to break out as the superstar slugger he would become. As a result, Judge’s 2016 Topps rookie cards could be acquired fairly inexpensively in the years after they were released. After Judge’s 2022 AL home run record season, his rookie cards skyrocketed in value.

A PSA 10 graded version of Judge’s standard 2016 Topps rookie card recently sold for $101,000 on eBay in September 2022. Meanwhile, a PSA 10 of his rookie chrome card from the same year reached $180,000 at auction. Even raw, ungraded versions of these cards in near-mint to mint condition regularly sell for $500-1000+ on the secondary market. It’s clear that Judge’s 2022 season has taken his rookie cards to a whole new level in terms of collector demand and monetary value. With his superstar status now cemented, many believe these rookie cards have room for further appreciation as long as Judge maintains his elite play.

Of course, the cards collectors are most interested in from 2022 are Judge’s flagship Topps cards documenting his record-setting season. Judge’s base card can be found in both the standard Topps release as well as Topps Chrome. In the regular Topps set, his base card carries the number 169. Meanwhile, in Topps Chrome his base card number is 99. Both of these cards skyrocketed in demand over the course of the 2022 season as Judge approached and ultimately broke the AL home run record.

In the days and weeks after Judge set the new record with his 62nd home run, raw versions of his 2022 Topps and Topps Chrome base cards were selling for $100-200 each online. As more time has passed and Judge’s accomplishment has sunk in, the prices have continued climbing. Today, PSA 10 graded versions of his 2022 Topps and Topps Chrome base cards regularly sell for $1,000-2,000 each. Even raw, ungraded copies in near-mint to mint condition go for $300-700 depending on the marketplace.

These prices are likely only temporary, as history shows cards from record-setting seasons tend to appreciate significantly with time. For example, cards of Barry Bonds from his 2001 season when he broke the single-season home run record have increased many times over in value since first being released. The same is true of cards from Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa’s epic home run race in 1998. There’s no reason to believe Judge’s 2022 Topps cards won’t follow a similar long-term appreciation trajectory, especially if he maintains elite production and chase records.

In addition to his base cards, Judge has several popular inserts and parallels from 2022 Topps releases that are in high demand. His Topps Fire card has become a particularly hot commodity. In Topps Fire, Judge’s card bears the number 4 and features a photo of him swinging with a fiery background. PSA 10 versions of this card have sold for as much as $2,500. Other popular high-end parallels include his Topps Sapphire, Topps Chrome Sapphire, and Topps Chrome Black Border refractors. All of these parallel and insert cards featuring Judge from 2022 are selling for hundreds of dollars even in raw form due to the limited print runs.

Looking ahead to 2023, Topps will again feature Judge prominently across all of its baseball card products since he is undoubtedly one of the faces of MLB coming off his record-setting season. While prices for Judge’s 2023 Topps cards remain to be seen long-term, early indicators suggest they will be some of the most in-demand modern baseball cards released. His standard base card and Topps Chrome base card are sure to be hot ticket items. Select parallels and short-print variants will also capture collector attention. With continued strong play in 2023 and beyond, Aaron Judge’s 2023 Topps cards have a great shot at joining the ranks of the most valuable modern baseball cards in the hobby.

In summary, Aaron Judge’s breakout 2022 season where he set the AL home run record has taken the prices of his rookie cards and flagship Topps cards from that year to new heights. While expensive already, most experts believe they have further room for appreciation as long as Judge maintains his elite caliber of play. His 2023 Topps cards are poised to be some of the most sought-after modern issues upon release as well. Judge has truly inserted himself into the conversation as one of the premier sluggers and most collectible players in baseball card history over the last couple seasons. It will be fascinating to see how the values of his recent cards, especially those from 2022 and 2023, perform long-term.

BETTER CALL SAUL GUY WITH BASEBALL CARDS

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Marco Pasternak is a memorable recurring character in the Breaking Bad spinoff series Better Call Saul. While he doesn’t play a major role in the overarching plot of the show, Marco makes several appearances throughout the series as an eccentric client of Jimmy McGill/Saul Goodman’s. His obsession with baseball cards provides some lighthearted comic relief amongst the darker criminal dealings often depicted. There is also a sense of melancholy and loneliness to Marco that makes him a surprisingly complex character.

Marco first appears in Season 1, Episode 5 of Better Call Saul. Jimmy is working out of a back office at the nail salon run by his friend Kim Wexler. Marco walks in seeking legal counsel, claiming he was scammed out of $1,500 worth of rare baseball cards. He explains that he met a man at a sports memorabilia show who said he had a collection of valuable rookie cards from the 1950s that he wanted to sell. Marco brought the cash to make a deal, but when he opened the box at home, he discovered the cards were actually worthless common cards.

In this initial meeting, several traits that define Marco’s character are established. He speaks in a slow, deliberate manner about his passion for collecting baseball cards as a lifelong hobby. But it’s clear he lacks much worldly sophistication and was easily taken advantage of by the scammer. Jimmy sees an opportunity to make some easy money and agrees to take Marco’s case, even though he knows it’s a lost cause. This introduction sets Marco up as a naive but likeable client that Jimmy is more than willing to exploit.

Over the course of Better Call Saul, Marco makes return appearances whenever Jimmy is in need of a quick cash payout. Each time, Marco brings a new baseball card-related issue for Jimmy to handle, even though the cases have little merit. In Season 2, Episode 8, Marco comes to Jimmy claiming his prized 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card was damaged at a sports memorabilia grading service. He wants Jimmy to sue them for the card’s $50,000 estimated value. Of course, the case goes nowhere and Marco ends up paying Jimmy’s inflated legal fees.

In their interactions, Marco’s wide-eyed enthusiasm for his baseball card collection is on full display. He’s able to rattle off obscure stats and trivia about any player or year. But his child-like view of the hobby also makes him an easy mark. Jimmy exploits Marco’s naivete for personal gain without regard for whether Marco’s cases are legitimate. This dynamic highlights Jimmy’s slippery moral code as he transitions into the unscrupulous lawyer Saul Goodman. At the same time, Marco represents the type of innocent client that Jimmy’s con-artist tendencies prey upon.

Beyond his function as a recurring client, Marco’s character provides glimpses into his personal life and background. He lives alone in a modest apartment packed floor to ceiling with memorabilia, suggesting a solitary existence revolving around his collecting obsession. When Kim visits to discuss one of his cases, the disheveled state of his home further hints at Marco’s lack of social skills and domestic abilities.

In a memorable Season 3 scene, Marco runs into Jimmy at a sports card show and excitedly shows off a rare 1909-11 T206 Honus Wagner card he bought, the sport’s most valuable trading card. But his purchase was made possible by taking out a high-interest loan from a shady collector. This foreshadows Marco getting in over his head financially and underscores how his card passion can become an addiction.

The last time Marco appears is in Season 4, when he seeks Jimmy’s help claiming his card collection was destroyed in a house fire. Jimmy suspects insurance fraud but goes along with it to get a payday. Their meeting reveals Marco has fallen on hard times, living in a run-down motel. His sad circumstances are a far cry from the more prosperous collector he portrayed himself to be in early episodes. This acts as a coda showing how Marco’s naive nature has ultimately not served him well.

While Marco Pasternak plays a small role in the grand scheme of Better Call Saul, his character offers an endearing portrait of an eccentric outsider. His unabashed fandom for baseball cards and memorabilia is genuinely heartwarming. But the character also serves as a cautionary tale, as his naivete and lack of worldly knowledge make him susceptible to scams and financial ruin. Through Marco, the show explores how obsessive hobbies and passions can both bring joy and act as means of escape, while also enabling self-destructive behaviors if not kept in check. Most of all, Marco Pasternak is a memorable and complex character who enhances the rich tapestry of personalities that inhabit the Better Call Saul universe.

BROOKS ROBINSON BASEBALL CARDS

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Brooks Calbert Robinson is considered one of the greatest defensive third basemen in Major League Baseball history. Known by the nickname “Brooks the Bulldog” for his gritty style of play, Robinson spent his entire 23-year MLB career playing for the Baltimore Orioles from 1955 to 1977. He was a key part of the Orioles’ dynasty years in the 1960s and early 1970s that saw the team win three World Series titles. Robinson’s defensive prowess, steady offensive production, and leadership helped cement his legacy as a true Baltimore icon. Given his Hall of Fame career and popularity in Charm City, it’s no surprise that Brooks Robinson has been featured on many baseball cards over the decades.

Some of the earliest baseball cards featuring Robinson came from his rookie season in 1955 with Topps and Bowman. On his 1955 Topps rookie card (#119), a young Brooks is pictured in an Orioles road uniform. The card features basic stats from his debut 1954 season when he played in just 17 games. Robinson’s 1955 Bowman card (#294) has a similar look but with home whites. These early cards helped establish the third baseman as he broke into the major leagues. They remain highly collectible today for fans and provide a glimpse at Robinson in the infancy of his storied career.

The late 1950s and 1960s saw Robinson’s ascent into superstardom with the Orioles. His defensive skills were peerless while his offensive production steadily improved each season. This led to Robinson receiving prominent card placements in the annual Topps and Post issues. His 1957 Topps card (#277) shows Brooks crouched down at third base ready to field a hot shot. By 1959 on his Topps card (#279), Robinson was given the coveted last card in the regular set, a sign of his status on the team. He received the last card again in 1960 Topps (#336) and 1961 Topps (#312) as his legend grew.

Robinson’s defensive dominance was on full display during the Orioles’ World Series championships in 1966, 1969, and 1970. His performance in the 1966 Fall Classic earned him World Series MVP honors. Naturally, Topps commemorated Brooks’ heroics with special World Series cards in 1967. The most iconic of these features a posed photo of Robinson proudly holding up three fingers for the Orioles’ third title on his 1967 Topps World Series card (#WS9). This remains one of the most sought after and visually striking cards in the Hall of Famer’s collection.

In the late 1960s and 1970s, Robinson continued to be a staple in the annual Topps issues as an established star and leader of the Orioles. His defensive skills may have started to decline by this point in his career, but cards like his 1968 Topps (#254), 1970 Topps (#250), and 1973 Topps (#336) showed that Brooks was still an integral part of the Baltimore lineup. In 1975, Topps even produced a special “Turn Back The Clock” card featuring a retro photo of a young Robinson at third base for the Orioles. This paid homage to his glory years earlier in the decade.

After retiring following the 1977 season, Robinson’s legend lived on through appearances in subsets like Topps’ Traded issues. He received cards in sets like 1978 Topps Traded (#T97) wearing an Orioles uniform even after leaving the playing field. Brooks was also featured in commemorative retired sets such as 1979 Topps All-Time Fan Favorites (#178). In the 1980s, Robinson began showing up in oddball sets like Donruss Diamond Kings alongside other baseball icons. His defensive skills and winning pedigree with Baltimore cemented Brooks’ place among the sport’s all-time greats on cardboard.

In the modern era, Robinson has continued to be recognized in premium products. Upper Deck produced autographed memorabilia cards of Brooks for their Hall of Fame collection in the 1990s and 2000s. More recently, Topps Archives has recreated many of Robinson’s classic Topps cards from his playing days. Panini even issued retro-style “Brooks Robinson Day” parallel cards for their 2017 Prizm Baseball release as part of the Orioles’ alumni celebration. Through reprints, retro designs, and special parallel issues, collectors can still enjoy cards featuring one of the finest third basemen in MLB history decades after his final at-bat.

Overall, Brooks Robinson’s Hall of Fame career and significance to Baltimore made him a consistent presence on baseball cards from the 1950s all the way to today’s modern issues. His classic rookie cards, prominent placements in the annual Topps sets, commemorative World Series cards, and later tribute issues helped immortalize “Brooks the Bulldog” for generations of collectors. Few players can match the sustained cardboard coverage that Robinson received over the decades. For fans and those who witnessed his greatness firsthand, Brooks Robinson baseball cards continue to be a portal to reliving the defensive wizardry and winning ways of this true Orioles icon.